Per Mertesacker, the head of Arsenal’s academy, will continue as a ZDF expert till Euro 2024

He has signed on to remain a ZDF expert until after the European Championship in 2024.

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: Christoph Kramer, Christoph Metzelder, Sami Khedira and Per Mertesacker look on prior to the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 28: Christoph Kramer, Christoph Metzelder, Sami Khedira and Per Mertesacker look on prior to the UEFA Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Stade de France on May 28, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
  • Per Mertesacker, alongside Christoph Kramer, will continue as ZDF experts till after the Euro 2024.
  • Sandro Wagner, a former national player, will be joining the ZDF expert panel from this summer.
  • Mertesacker, while acting as ZDF expert, continues his role as head of Arsenal‘s Academy.

Per Mertesacker, the head of Arsenal’s academy, together with fellow World Cup 2014 champion Christoph Kramer, has been confirmed as a ZDF expert till after the European Championship in 2024. This information was confirmed by the public TV broadcaster ZDF following a report from Sport-Bild.

STUTTGART, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 03: Per Mertesacker (L), is seen in the ZDF studio during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Germany and Spain at Mercedes-Benz Arena on September 03, 2020 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
STUTTGART, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 03: Per Mertesacker (L), is seen in the ZDF studio during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Germany and Spain at Mercedes-Benz Arena on September 03, 2020 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

“We’re delighted that these two experts will accompany us on the journey to the home European Championship 2024,” stated ZDF sports director Yorck Polus.

Their shared expertise, stemming from victorious 2014 World Cup campaigns and respective football careers, will prove invaluable in the run-up to the championship hosted in Germany.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Per Mertesacker of Arsenal celebrates with the trophy after The Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 27: Per Mertesacker of Arsenal celebrates with the trophy after The Emirates FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

ZDF’s expert group is expanding with the addition of ex-national player Sandro Wagner from this summer. “These three will lend their extensive knowledge to the ZDF sports program,” Polus added.

Aside from their punditry roles, both Kramer and Mertesacker maintain ties with professional football. Mertesacker, formerly of Arsenal FC as a player, is now the head of their youth academy. Meanwhile, Kramer balances his ZDF commitments with his playing career at Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Luke Hobbs, Jack Wilshere, Mehmet Ali, and Per Mertesacker (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Luke Hobbs, Jack Wilshere, Mehmet Ali, and Per Mertesacker (Photo via Arsenal.com)

They will return to the ZDF screen for the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan in Istanbul.

Sandro Wagner, who previously coached SpVgg. Unterhaching and was a DAZN commentator, will also be exclusive to ZDF from this summer.

Much like Mertesacker, who also had a stint with DAZN before moving to ZDF in 2020, Wagner will be balancing his commitment to Arsenal‘s academy alongside his punditry work.

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